Writer/Director/Star Albert Brooks and co-writer Monica Johnson's somewhat jaundiced view ofachievement and success in Hollywood is the inspiration for this movie. While a bit gimmicky and aimless,it is still quite funny and satisfies in a way he's known for doing(Lost in America,Defending Your Life and Mother spring to mind for me personally).

Writer Steven Miller has won what seems to be his umpteenth Humanitarian award for his work in the industry,and being a longtime veteran of penning scripts that get critical acclaim but receive little or no commercial reward,he finds himself at a crossroads for his career. In a moment of personal breakdown in front of his friend Jack(Jeff Bridges,very good in something just a little bit more than a cameo here) recommends that he use the services of a beautiful and spoiled woman named Sarah(Sharon Stone,very fine here),whose exact job is to be a Muse,or inspiration,for artists to do their most successful work. Reluctant at first,Steven takes the Muse in and,after running through hoops for her in ways that seem not worth the effort,his script inspiration takes a commercial(if not quality)turn for the seemingly better. Things complicate when Steven's wife Laura(Andie MacDowall,who rarely seems different in any role she does anymore)ferrets out Sarah,thinking he's husband is having an affair with her. He isn't,and the two become friends,and Sarah's artistic inspiration rubs off on Laura as well.

A skewering of the Hollywood industry is served up in the first half of the movie,followed by the last half being somewhat of an actualization story. Uneven? Sure. But the material is kept light enough to please anyone's dry grown-up humor,particularly one who value's Brooks' style.

The Muse (1999)

3.5/4

"Daddy" Steven's daughter says to him, "what's a humanitarian?" "It's somebody who's never won the Oscar," Steven says cheerfully.

"The Muse" is about Steven (Albert Brooks), a struggling screenwriter, who, according to his manager, is "past his prime" even though he just won a Humanitarian award. To help bridge himself back together, he meets a writing 'muse' (Sharon Stone) to help him, from the recommendation of his friend Jack (Jeff Bridges). Things go awry from there, as the 'muse' begins to help everybody around Steven but him with his desperate screenplay.

I've already seen "The Muse" twice - it's a real triumph for Albert Brooks. It is hilariously on the mark, yet incredibly entertaining. There's a lot of things I like about this movie, especially the celebrity cameos, like ones from Martin Scorsese and James Cameron. When they show up, this movie is truly awesome. The movie has a lot of laughs, also, and a particularly clever idea and a brilliant ending. I wouldn't say "The Muse" is top form Brooks, but this is an example of a brilliant lesser effort. "The Muse" isn't perfect, but it's a gem. I like movies like "The Muse" - you laugh, you laugh some more, you're entertained, and by the last 15 minutes, you wonder what's gonna happen next. Seeing it a second time, I had the same experience as the first time - it's a savory, superb, unpredictable Hollywood satire that's a little ahead of its time. The movie reminded me of Larry David and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" - I don't need to say anymore, do I?

I grew up laughing myself silly watching The Muse, and I feared that as a grown-up, I might not like it anymore. I watched it recently and, relieved, laughed myself silly! This silly, cynical, yet strangely not depressing, comedy is perfect for all ages. Although, there's really nothing better than watching it when you're a kid.

Albert Brooks stars as a Hollywood screenwriter in a slump. His best friend, Jeff Bridges, cranks out hit after hit, and when Al comes to him for advice, Jeff confides a secret: he's had a muse-a real muse. Al begs for an introduction, and when he meets Sharon Stone, he's blown away. She has an extremely detailed, expensive list of demands, and as he shuffles along and reluctantly tries to make her happy, the audience is left in stitches. Sharon has to live in a suite at the Four Seasons, she needs all her beautiful clothes dry-cleaned, she has a huge grocery list, she can't be wrong, and she needs to be showered with gifts, preferably from Tiffany's. When Al runs out of money to support her high hotel bill, he puts her up in his guest cottage, where she infiltrates his family life in addition to his professional life.

I know Sharon's famous for her other, less-dressed roles, but I'll always think of her as The Muse. She's so delightful, charming, and irresistible, it's no wonder a stream of directors are seen coming and going from her cottage: Martin Scorsese, Rob Reiner, and my favorite cameo, James Cameron. He presents her with a large box, and Sharon says, "It's not...?" indicating the necklace from Titanic. When James laughs and it isn't, Sharon glares at him and slams the door. Isn't she adorable?

And if one adorable lady isn't enough, Andie MacDowell costars as Albert Brooks's wife. While perfectly contented to be a housewife, once she meets Sharon, she gets inspired to become the next Mrs. Fields. While Sharon drives Albert crazy at work, Andie starts driving him crazy at home, baking incessantly and telling him with her signature grin, "Have a cookie!" whenever he's hungry. Just as The Muse is my favorite Sharon Stone movie, it's also one of my favorite Andie MacDowell movies. You've got to rent it. I know you'll love it.